I've been writing and reviewing for magazines like FUZZ Magazine, Backstage, Hard Roxx, Sweden Rock Magazine, Metal Zone etc. I'm still occationally reviewing and blogging for www.metalcentral.net.
As Metalcovenant is in Swedish, you'll find some of my reviews translated here.
Have you released a CD you'd like me to review? Send me a copy! Mail me for an address: stark(at)starkmusic(dot)net
Cheers!
Janne Stark

Sunday, 8 May 2016

Badge – If It Hurts It Must Be Good (CD)

Swedish
cowboy zombie punksters has decided to give us yet another well-aimed kick in
the genitals. Imagine you have a venomous Led Zeppelin rat in one corner and a
pissed off MC5 snake in the other. You then bring in John Spencer and let him
conduct the fight between these two animals. That’s kinda what Badge sounds
like. Especially the two opening tracks ”Reap What You Sow” and ”The Game”. The
fight slows down a bit in ”Trapdoor” and it seems like they’ve been given some
tips from an Australian contestant named Tracer. Ok, we take it down even
another notch in ”In The Eye Of The Storm” and bring in the acoustic slide artillery.
In ”We Will See The Light” the fight is over and the animals lay in their
respective corner, licking their wounds. Some attempts to pick up the fight do occur,
but both are way to groggy to even stand up. They slip and they slide, walking
heavy back into the corner. ”Traitor” is most likely the victory song with its
perky, strutty, guitar picking and busy drumming. In ”Step Aside” we’re back in
the game again, loser still as groggy, but mind dead set on revenge. No way
this fella can walk a straight line. Falls over, trips, gets up, falls again.
Damn, this is getting weird. ”Mapped Out Trail” yep, it may be. But now Raging
Slab throws a punch, trying to interfere. Succeeds, too! Game over. ”Yet To Come”. The victor walks out, head high, back straight, middle finger in the air. This is f***ng
weird, and I f***ing love it!

About me

I'm a Swedish guitarist, writer and record collector. I've recorded a bunch of albums/CDs with bands like OVERDRIVE, LOCOMOTIVE BREATH, BALLS, MOUNTAIN OF POWER, ZELLO, PLANET ALLIANCE, plus made guest appearances on stuff by NARNIA, AUDIOVISION, CHRIS CATENA, FAITH, BLINDED COLONY, THALAMUS, M.O.B, TOWER OF STONE, VII GATES etc.
I'm currently involved in the following bands/projects: GRAND DESIGN, MOUNTAIN OF POWER, OVERDRIVE, ZOOM CLUB and CONSTANCIA
I've been writing for magazines like FUZZ, Backstage, Kool Kat News, Hard Roxx, Sweden Rock Magazine etc and still write for www.metalcentral.net and www.metalcovenant.com, plus I'm the author of the three volumes of "The Encyclopedia of Swedish Hard Rock And Heavy Metal"!
I have a lovely wife, two crazy cats and two beautiful daughters.